Truck mixer water tank



June 5, 1956 L. e. HILKEMEIER TRUCK MIXER WATER TANK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 7, 1954 LOUIS G.HILKEMEIER IN VEN TOR.

June 5, 1956 G. HILKEMEIER 2,748,793

TRUCK MIXER WATER TANK Filed Jan. 7, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l4- 9 a 39 a 8 38 l3 LOUIS G.H|LKEMEIER United States Patent 2,748,793 TRUCK M" l X E 'R WATER TAN K Louis G. Hilkerneier, Plainfield, N. J., assignor to Worthington Corporation, Harrison, N. J., a corporation or Delaware Application January 7, 1954, Serial No. 402,779

3 Claims. (Cl. 137-264) This invention relates to a water tank structure and more particularly to such water tanks as are used for transit-type concrete, plastic or other mixing devices.

It has been found that in water tanks for transit mixers in which a single compartment tank is divided by a partition to form two chambers therein, a mixing water chamber and a flushing water chamber, that it was difficult to test the watertightness between the chambers after the tank was welded closed, or to repair any leaks disclosed during testing or actual operation. In addition, the partition tended to break down due to diaphragming under actual operation and considerable difficulty in making the necessary welding repairs in the field was experienced.

The present invention seeks to remove this problem by providing a water tank construction in which an independent tank forming a compartment for flushing water is mounted within the interior of the tank holding the mixing water, and means are provided for connecting each compartment to the mixing drum.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a water tank for mixers where the respective tank forming the flushing water compartment can be assembled and tested before it is mounted in the mixing water tank.

It is another object of this invention to provide a tank forming the flush water compartment that will be able to withstand diaphragming due to pressure surges.

With these and other objects in view, as may appear from the accompanying specification, the invention consists of various features of construction and combination of parts, which will be first described in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing a truck mixer water tank of a preferred form embodying the invention, and the features forming the invention will be specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation of the tank showing the cylindrical flush tank within.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the tank.

Figure 3 is a sectional view thru the flush tank taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view, partly broken away, showing the water tank of the present invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the improved water tank generally designated 1 includes the mixing water tank 2 and the flush water tank 3 mounted in the mixing water tank.

The mixing water tank 2 is shown as cylindrical but may be of any desired shape and is mounted adjacent the mixer device (not shown) by means of the brackets 4 with straps 5 and supports 6 for securing it thereon. The water from the tank may be pumped to the mixing device or if dependent on gravity flow will of necessity be mounted in a high position on the mixing device.

An opening '7 for filling is provided in a convenient location at the top of the tank 2 and covered by a filler cap 8 that is chained securely to the outer surface of the tank.

The air vent 9 in the top of the water tank 2 permits escape of air from the tank when filling the tank and permits entrance of air when emptying the same.

The flush water tank 3, considerably smaller in size than the main tank and holding only sufficient water to flush the mixing drum, is mounted in a vertical position within the mixing water tank as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The flush water tank 3, substantially cylindrical in shape, is constructed of a material strong enough to withstand the diaphragming from pressure surge and preferably a seamless structure to eliminate breakage of welds, etc.

As the flush water tank is an independent structure it is tested for leaks and all necessary repairs are made before mounting in the mix' water tank.

It is then mounted thru the circular opening 10 provided at the bottom center of the mix water tank. The greater portion of the flush water tank is securely fitted within the interior of the main tank with its lower portion extending below the circular opening 10.

A filler opening 11 for the flush water tank is also provided at the top of same and is made accessible to the outside thru an opening 12 in the mix water tank with the inlet pipe 13 joining the openings. A removable filler cap 14 chained to the eyebolt 15 covers the opening in the mix water tank.

An inverted L-shaped recess 16 in one side of the 7 lower portion of the Hush water tank has a vertical memher 17 extending downwardly to the bottom of the tank and across its diameter and a semi-circular transverse member 18 with both members connected to the walls of the tank by welding or other suitable watertight means. The recess forms an outlet chamber 19 communicating with the mix water compartment thru the space 2e between the transverse member 18 and the periphery 21 of the circular opening in the bottom of the tank.

The outlet chamber 19 is provided with an outlet 24 and the flushing water tank or compartment 3 is provided with its outlet 27. These outlets 24 and 27 are in turn connected by elbow-shaft conduits 22 and 28 to opposite sides of a three-way valve 23. The three-way valve 23, as is well known in the art, is provided with a common discharge outlet 3i) connected to a pump (not shown) which supplies the water to the mixing drum, also not shown. In operation, when the lever 29 for the three- Way valve 23 is rotated in one direction communication between the outlet chamber and the common discharge outlet 30 is provided and in the opposite direction communication between the flushing water compartment or tank 3 and the common discharge outlet 30 is provided. In the neutral position as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings the valve is closed and will not discharge water from either the outlet chamber or the flushing water compartment.

Petcocks 32 and 33 are located on the under side of the elbow conduits for complete drainage so that during winter operations no residue water will remain in the conduits to leak into the valve 23 and freeze in the assembly.

A conduit 34 is provided at the bottom of the mix water compartment for drainage of the compartment to the outside. A valve 35 for controlling the flow is mounted in the conduit and a manually operated lever 36 is connected thereto for opening and closing the valve.

As Figs. 1 and 2 show, unbreakable gauge glasses 37 and 38 are securely mounted on the exterior of the tank by brackets 39, and have conduits 40 and 41 connected to the gauge glasses from the respective tanks. They are conveniently located but well guarded so the operator can see when the tanks are full.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific construction or arrangement of parts shown, but that they may be widely modified within the invention defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A water tank for a transit type mixer including, means forming a mixing water compartment having its axis disposed horizontally, an independent auxiliary tank forming a flushing water compartment, said auxiliary tank disposed within the mixing water compartment and having its axis extending transversely of the axis of said water compartment and extending below the lowermost portion of said means forming the mixing water compartment, inlet means for delivering water to said mixing water compartment and said flushing water compartment, means on said auxiliary tank forming an outlet chamber for collecting fluid from said mixing water compartment, said outlet chamber and said flushing water compartment having independent outlet means connected to a common discharge, and valve means for controlling the fiow of water from said outlet chamber and said flushing water compartment to said common discharge.

2. A water tank for a transit type mixer including, means forming a mixing water compartment having its axis disposed horizontally, independent means forming a flushing water compartment mounted centrally in said mixing water compartment and having its axis extending transversely of the axial line of said mixing water compartment, said means forming the flushing water compartment connected to and extending below the lowermost part of said means forming the mixing water compartment, inlet means for delivering water to said compartment forming means, means at the lowermost portion of said means forming the flushing water compartment providing an outlet chamber, said means forming the outlet chamber having an opening providing communication between said mixing water compartment and said outlet chamber whereby water may pass to said outlet chamber by gravity flow, said outlet chamber and said flushing water compartment having independent outlets connected to a common discharge, and valve means for controlling the flow of water from said outlets to said common discharge.

3. A water tank as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means forming the outlet chamber includes an inverted L-shaped element connected in water tight relationship at the lower end of said flushing water compartment to provide an independent segment therein forming the outlet chamber, and said opening struck in the side of said means forming the flushing water compartment just above the point of connection between said means forming the mixing water compartment and said flushing water compartment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 767,302 Malone Aug. 9, 1904 769,856 Curtis Sept. 13, 1904 1,720,967 Saugman July 16, 1929 2,200,675 Northcutt May 14, 1940 

